So as many of you will be aware my car has suffered from various build quality issues since the day I drove it off the forecourt. I know a lot of members on this forum have either bought one of the new Mercedes Benz C Class cars or are seriously looking at it so please read this. It may save you a lot of money.

This is my first Mercedes Benz. Previously I have run BMW, Ford and Volvo.

Whilst I was somewhat disappointed with these issues on a "premium product" my dealer (Mercedes Benz of Boston part of the Lister group of companies) have always been fine.

But by the time we got to visit number TEN to the dealers with my car having spent FIVE WEEKS out of the last 10 months in the workshop it was becoming clear that we were not going to fix the issues.

So in July the dealer had my car for 2 weeks. They totally stripped it down and put it back together (again). Within 15 miles of leaving the dealer the rattles had returned.

Now these rattles are numerous and varied.

First there is the buzzing from the drivers seatbelt mechanism. Right next to my right ear. The dealer claims this is a known problem with a known fix. The problem is that the fix doesn't work.

Then we have a ticking noise from behind the sat nav screen. Sounds like a wire catching on plastic to me.

Then there are various other creaks and cracks from all over the top area of the dash especially when the sun is shining. Every time the car flexes (round a bend for example), the dashboard creaks

And then there is a noise that appears to come from where the 2 parts of the centre console meet.

There are also a bunch of noises coming from the rear of the car but I haven't even started on them.

So after not fixing the car after having it for 2 weeks in July it went into the dealer "one more time". This time after I had spoken to Listers head office and Mercedes Benz UK.

I made it very clear that if it wasn't fixed this time, I would be rejecting the car under the rights afforded me by the sale of goods act on the grounds that the product is not of "satisfactory quality" and that even though i had given the supplying dealer ample opportunity to rectify things, they had failed.

I told them that I did not care if they had to put the car back in it's box, send it back to Germany and rebuild it from scratch. Just fix it.

The car came back after 3 days with rattles.

So last Monday I visited the dealership and formally rejected the car.

The Dealer Principle accepted my rejection and explained that there was a formal process that he needed to follow but that he would look to replace the car.

Today after going through the Mercedes Benz process to do this he has changed his tune.

Mercedes Benz UK have told me that in their opinion, ALL vehicles have various rattles and noises from the cabin area and in their view, as the car hasn't actually failed me, it perfectly fit for purpose.

I have asked them to put this in writing. After all, a letter from Mercedes Benz stating that rattles in brand new cars is "acceptable" is going to make quite some reading and I am sure is something their competitors would love to get hold of!

They declined to put this in writing.

So it looks like things are about to get ugly.

Legal action is an option but because we are talking about a £40k car, the small claims court it not an option so will be expensive. This will be my last resort.

Insist on them putting their reasons in writing, might be worth getting your solicitor to write asking for this. If they refuse a very well written letter from you documenting the discussion where they claim rattles are ok and inviting their response prior to initiating legal action might get them to move.

Sorry to hear of your issues,I hated my Merc from day one imho they are very poor , So much so the first and second service on my was free of charge ,When the local dealer called suggesting it required a service I went through a load off gripes and both times it was serviced foc, They just called trying to sell me another as it is approaching 3 yrs now and it was a short call LOL.

Would you be happy with another MB or are you after a refund ??

Good Luck , I think you are in for a load of hard work ,but if you have the time and patience you may be able to swap it , Possibly speak with Andrew (palm nuts) Im sure he can help

Hope you get this resolved; hopefully the negative publicity, in the form of an appropriate message on your, car will help - please post a picture when you've had the sign writing done.
I've had a look at your blog and note, from your entry dated 15th July, that the loan car was even worse than your own. What about the demo car you drove before purchase - presumably you took an extended test drive over a couple of days - did that not have similar issues?
It's a shame if this is a common MB problem as I'm seriously considering an E-Class cabriolet and I'm planning to take one for a weekend very soon - I'll pay particular attention to any rattles and post my findings.